The Straight Board That Gives Fresh Concrete Its Shape
A Simple Tool With A Precise Job: Fresh concrete arrives without a finished surface. It must be placed, shaped, and worked before it becomes too stiff. One early step uses a surprisingly plain tool: a long, straight board or metal bar called a screed. Its job is to bring the concrete to the planned surface height. This process is also called strikeoff. The screed removes excess material rather than polishing the slab. Think of it as establishing the surface that later finishing tools will refine. A shiny finish cannot replace this basic shaping step.